Winter Tyres Fitted in Sheffield

Challenger have a large selection of winter tyres in stock at our branches in Sheffield and Barnsley, available now for fitting. We have budget winter tyres providing outstanding value for money as well as top brands such as Michelin, Bridgestone and Toyo. We also stock a range of Kingpin and Profil retread winter tyres, which make a low-cost solution snow tyre and are a sensible cheap alternative to the big name brands. Book online (Look out for the snowflake symbol which denotes a winter tyre), call us on 0114 2766661, or use our drop-in service to get your winter tyres fitted at your convenience.

Improved Road Safety

Below 7°C winter tyres will provide higher levels of road safety on:

Cold, damp and wet roads – 5m shorter stopping distance at 62mph

Snow covered roads - 8m shorter stopping distance at 30mph

Icy roads - 11m shorter stopping distance at only 20mph

Good reasons for British drivers to consider using the safest tyres available during the cold weather period.

When Should Winter Tyres be Fitted?

Don’t wait for high snow falls or long periods of sub zero temperatures. Sub 7 degree temperatures are regularly experienced between autumn and spring time in the UK and it is not snow or ice that we experience, but cold and damp or wet roads.

It is in these conditions that winter tyres can make a significant contribution to improving road safety.

For Safer Winter Driving - Not Just on Snow & Ice

Winter tyres, or more accurately Cold Weather Tyres, are a legal requirement throughout much of continental Europe. At 7°C and below the tread compound in standard tyres hardens and becomes less able to key with the road surface and loses grip. Winter tyres however remain flexible and grippy even at low temperatures thanks to its silica compound and a high proportion of natural rubber. The result is higher grip levels particularly when the road is wet.

Better Grip and Braking on Snow & Ice

The tread pattern on a winter tyre (right) is particularly effective on snow and slush. To provide additional traction the pattern is designed to actually allow snow and slush to penetrate the wider grooves of the tyre itself. The tyre then “holds” a small amount of snow which provides a snow to snow grip as opposed to the rubber to snow grip of a standard tyre giving the winter tyre much greater levels of traction.

To aid the main pattern elements winter tyres contain a high volume of “sipes”. These small knife cut like features provide a multitude of gripping edges that interlock with the wintry surface, thus guaranteeing reliable braking qualities, impressive acceleration and cornering performance.

Winter Tyres Compared to Summer Tyres

A standard summer tyre tread pattern (left) tends towards being a circumferential rib formation with very few sipes. Their performance and characteristics are biased towards higher temperatures and there is little compromise made to make them suit snow and ice conditions.

Winter tyres (right) have a block pattern oriented in rib like formation and a high concentration of sipes designed to cope with all winter road conditions including dry roads. Criteria such as comfort, noise, and service life are as much a requirement with winter tyres as they are for summer tyres.

Improved Braking Performance of Winter Tyres

The difference in performance of summer tyres and winter tyres at 20 degrees, or a typical British summer temperature, with a vehicle braking from 62mph, is relatively small at just over a metre and a half.

But at sub 7°C the cold weather winter tyres will help the vehicle stop some 4.8 meters shorter or 18 feet.

On snow covered roads the winter tyre excels and on a vehicle braking from just 30mph there is a significant difference of 8 metres or 26 ft.

On icy roads and braking from just 20mph the difference is dramatic: 11 metres, close on 36 ft - more than twice the length of the average car.

Fitting Winter Tyres

Our recommendation is to fit standard summer tyres in the warmer months and switch to cold weather winter tyres during the colder months (Oct-Mar).

It is not uncommon that the speed symbol of the winter tyre may be slightly lower than for the equivalent summer tyre. Where this is the case it is advisable to notify your insurer and have a visual reminder on the cars dash panel to remind the driver. However, even an H rated tyre has a maximum speed of 131mph so in winter conditions this should not compromise your driving.

Winter tyres last as long as summer tyres and perform better in winter conditions. Depending on your mileage, they may last for 2 or 3 winters and so save on the wear on your summer tyres, postponing their replacement.

Due to superior grip from winter tyres, cars should be fitted with 4 winter tyres or 4 summer tyres, of the same speed rating and the same load index.

In springtime around March when temperatures are averaging nearer 7 degrees in the morning, you should change back to summer tyres.

Markings

Look out for the Snowflake symbol (right) on your winter tyres. To obtain this marking tyres have to go through defined testing conditions and meet minimum requirements. A tyre with this reference has better traction on snow.

An M+S Marking denotes a tyre that is designed in such a way that driving features on mud and snow are better than with normal standard tyres, though it does not denote a specific winter tyre performance.

Need to speak to an expert? Call us on 0114 2766661 or use the contact us form.